Foreign workers could help Taiwan’s state-owned energy company Taipower stabilize the power grid, the island’s economic minister Kuo Yu-hue said on July 2, Taiwan News reported.
Several localities on the island have experienced power cuts in recent months, casting doubt on the suitability of the government’s intentions to abandon the use of nuclear energy.
However, the minister, answering questions from members of the island’s parliament, said Taiwan is not facing mass shutdowns. Over the past 10 years, the frequency of outages has decreased by 70%.
The problem is ageing infrastructure and population movements. Taipower must ensure a stable supply of electricity to industry and the public, but it lacks staff.
Goh Yu-hui has therefore asked the government to consult on the possible involvement of foreign workers in solving this problem.
At the same time, the minister believes that the island will not suffer from electricity shortages until 2030. The losses resulting from the closure of three nuclear power plants will be more than covered by other sources of electricity.
We remind you that on the same day a new record for energy consumption was set in Taiwan. At its peak it was 41.8 gigawatts. The available capacity was 47.33 Gigawatts.
On the island, higher electricity rates are introduced in summer to avoid overloading the grid.
An ageing population is a major challenge for Taiwan. Taiwanese leaders see recruiting migrants from abroad as one way to solve the problem. The working-age population is shrinking amid falling birth rates and an ageing population.
The government intends to focus on three areas to address the problem: strengthening the search for highly qualified foreign administrative specialists, attracting and retaining more foreign students, especially those of Chinese origin, and attracting and retaining migrant workers who are simultaneously pursuing studies in Taiwan, including university.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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